17 replies to this topic

[Helen of Annoy]

Group of mountaineers saw strange light in a hole in the ground some 50 metres from the path to the mountain shelter Rupe, on 1363 m altitude, where they planned to spend the night.
At first they thought there must be another group of mountaineers camping there, but as they came closer they saw no one and nothing that would explain strange light that was illuminating the hole.  
Ivan Zebić said he had only rather bad camera so the photos he captured are not showing the true intensity of the scene, but you can see them on the link:  

http://www.index.hr/...ari/663632.aspx

Edit: and here too:
http://www.crometeo....o/#!prettyPhoto

Edited by Helen of Annoy, 21 February 2013 - 03:36 PM.

[freetoroam]

How am i going to understand all that?

No, I am not going to google translate it.

can`t even read the comments at the bottom, which can be interesting sometimes.

Edited by freetoroam, 21 February 2013 - 03:49 PM.

[spud the mackem]

The photo looks ominous but maybe a translation would help in the text, Hvala Vam mnogo

[Helen of Annoy]

I gave you the essential info, but since you're interested, I'll translate it all... it can't be worse than Google translation, I hope

[Helen of Annoy]

The article from the first link:


Mountaineers photographed mysterious light on Dinara

During their visiting Dinara last weekend two mountaineers, Ivan Zebić – Klepton and Jozo Vitić, have noticed something unusual.

In the afternoon they went towards the mountain shelter “Rupe” that is situated at 1363 metres above the sea level. Night caught them on their way, and suddenly they saw something they didn’t expect. Some 50 metres away from the trail, from the depression in the ground with approximate diameter 5 m and approx. depth 3 m, light was coming out.

Two of them were convinced someone set camp in the hole and the light they see is from the fire or torch, but when they came closer they saw nothing but the snow.

“We were not able to explain what that was that we saw. The most logical answer would be that this hole for some reason can retain light of the day. As the time was passing the light was not fading. I captured this phenomenon with my camera but it has bad resolution and didn’t caught the real situation which was much more intense ‘in live’. And couple days after we captured it, we still talk about it.” said Zebić for Crometeo. (Crometeo is Croatian meteorological portal.)


The comments are hilarious to me but have nothing to do with the phenomenon, it’s mostly criminally incorrect political humour and usual exchange of creative rudeness.   

Edited by Helen of Annoy, 21 February 2013 - 04:31 PM.

[SpiritWriter]

Lots of reports on these ground lights....

[Helen of Annoy]

The article from the second link:


Phenomenon: What kind of light mountaineers have stumbled upon on Dinara?


Last weekend numerous mountaineers have visited Dalmatian mountains covered with thick snow layer. Among them were Ivan Zebić – Klepton from Mountaineering Society Dinarids from Split, and Jozo Vitić from Mountaineer Society Svilaja from Sinj.

In the afternoon two mountaineers went towards the mountain shelter “Rupe” on Dinara, at 1363 metres above the sea level. Night caught them on their way, and what should have been an usual winter climbing experience was disrupted by an extraordinary sight.

Some 50 metres away from the trail, the depression in the ground was visible, with approximate diameter 5 m and approx. depth 3 m. Such holes are normal part of Dalmatian mountain karts terrain, but this hole was special because the light was coming out of it.

Two mountaineers were convinced at first that someone set camp right in that hole and the light they see is from the fire or torch. But when they came closer they saw nothing but the snow.

Mountaineers had observed this phenomenon from 18:15 to 18:30.

“We were not able to explain what that was that we saw. The most logical answer would be that this hole for some reason can retain light of the day. As the time was passing the light was not fading. I captured this phenomenon with my camera but it has bad resolution and didn’t caught the real situation which was much more intense ‘in live’. And couple days after we captured it, we still talk about it.” said Ivan Zebić – Klepton, the eyewitness and the author of photographs.

We bring you the photos of this phenomenon, one of which was processed to enhance the contrast, and also more photos of the ascend on top of Dinara, on the snow higher than 3 metres.

Edited by Helen of Annoy, 21 February 2013 - 04:43 PM.

[freetoroam]

Not sure about this. We all know that a torch shown at night where no other lighting is around, can be seen for miles away.
Here any lighting had the help of the snow to reflect off.
I have seen car lights in the distance who could be mistaken for UFO headlamps.

It does not say if they had actually gone right up to the hole and shown their own torch inside? this would have been the logical thing to do. It is more likely they developed their film and then came up with this idea after. There is no way they thought this light was strange at the time without going right up to it to investigate??/  surely???

Edited by freetoroam, 21 February 2013 - 04:58 PM.

[Helen of Annoy]

They were close enough to make sure no one was there, that there was no device of any kind that would emit the light, whole area was covered with snow so it’s very obvious if there was any recent movement.
There was nothing, only them, snow and the strange light illuminating the hole in the ground.

Dinara mountain is typical Dalmatian karst, meaning that under that snow there’s rocky terrain with all kinds of holes, sinkholes, crevices, precipices and stuff.
The hole in question is 5 metres in diameter, 3 metres deep, so it’s about 16 feet diameter and 10 feet depth.
Not a shaft, more like mini-hollow with steep sides. Any device or person would be very visible from the edge of the hole, especially in all that virgin snow.  

So the mountaineers saw, took better look, took some photos and went on according to their plan.

Strange lights on our mountains are very common part of our folk tales, so I guess they were not too surprised with seeing one unexplained light, they probably were more surprised with the fact that grandma wasn’t exaggerating when telling them about such lights. My guess only, no one of the mountaineers stated that in any article.

[Yamato]

Maybe someone put a light in a hole.

But why?  Why would someone do that?   They're a common part of folk tales, and just look at these stories get passed around online.   Having fun is reason enough.

[Dan'O]

There are rare microscopic ice worms that bioluminesce. Or was it the bacteria in them that did it? I forget and I cant quickly find anything online at the moment.

[Helen of Annoy]

Yamato, on 21 February 2013 - 05:57 PM, said:

Maybe someone put a light in a hole.

But why?  Why would someone do that?   They're a common part of folk tales, and just look at these stories get passed around online.   Having fun is reason enough.

"Why" is not an issue as you said, fun is reason enough, definitely.


But while it’s possible that it was a prank, it's not probable at all.  
That area is too far away from sight of everyone except few mountaineers, too hard to reach in winter, and even if there was another group of mountaineers in pranking mood, it would simply be too much trouble for too uncertain result – will anyone pass by, will anyone even notice etc.

Dan, on 21 February 2013 - 06:04 PM, said:

There are rare microscopic ice worms that bioluminesce. Or was it the bacteria in them that did it? I forget and I cant quickly find anything online at the moment.

Yes, there are a number of bioluminescent thingies in this world. My husband’s first explanation was bioluminescent algae or something, but then we concluded Dinara is too dry in summer to allow algae of epic proportions and even if there were such organisms in the ground, the layer of snow was too thick for soft glow to shine through. Again, I’m only guessing here.
Ice worms, maybe, but when the harsh winter is over you have burning summer up there on Dinara, I doubt ice worms would survive scorching sun.

[notforgotten]

Could it be an underground alien bunker or something like that?

[Helen of Annoy]

notforgotten, on 21 February 2013 - 08:00 PM, said:

Could it be an underground alien bunker or something like that?

That’s what I wanted to hear! I mean read!

It’s not clear from the literal translation of what eyewitness Ivan said, but the mountaineers themselves thought the only remotely logical explanation could be some weird refraction of setting sun light that made that particular hole in the ground illuminated after everything else in the vicinity was dark, but that logical explanation lacks logic – holes in the ground are the last place where you can expect last sunrays.

So I hope it’s the aliens forgetting to turn off the bunker porch light because – hell – like there’s anyone around that could see it, right?

In the old tales and contemporary reports, strange lights in the mountains usually are accompanied with appearances of even stranger creatures, like werewolves, vile (fairies) and other.
It didn't happen this time, all the mountaineers talk about is strange light, which is good for credibility but somewhat disappointing for me personally.

[spud the mackem]

Aha got it, Its a marker light for a U.F.O. like you would use to guide in Helicopters.Maybe there was more on neighbouring mountains which the guys didnt see,but which could be clearly seen from above.